"THE ELECTION OF A BISHOP."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 622, 27 September 1909, Page 8

"THE ELECTION OF A BISHOP."

Sir,—ln yours of September : 17,' you givo a report of the election of.. Archdeacon Averill to the diocese of Wniapu; again, in yours of 21st., thore appears an explanation by Mr ,T. 11. Fioldcr, lay secretary .of tho Diocesan Synod, correcting your report. I think his explanation reveals a very serious defect in tho.Church of the Province of New Zealand if this ,is the usual procedure followed in electing, a. bishop. It savours uioro of a Parliamentary election. Mr. J. B. Fielder-soys-"lt was not compotent for. tho committco to rccoivo nominations and make tho election in committee." No! but it seems the committee selected tho bishop;.! know of>no church situated as this church is that would allow of

such a thing being done. To show how thest attempts of committees to 6eleot bishops was' received in the Scottish Episcopal Church somo s ? f 6 ? 8 , aß °' th -e D'ocese of Glasgow was about to become vacant by resignation j tha j lC ?i} and la y electors were called together, and, there was an attempt to set up a tonmitteo .to select suitable candidates. A . fow o£ tho clerical electors gave the motion such a time that the idea had to bo abandoned, as it was. pointed out that tho election should i mad l • n ' o Pca?ynod,-and that bach clerical elector had'. tho right to nominate. any person • qualified for, the office. It seems, 'by this recent election that they have not followed tho precedent followed in ancient or modern times. ..Again Mr. Fielder says: "Archdeacon Avonllwas nominated, and; no other nominations being forthcoming, a ballot was taken." Why was a ballot taken when only one name was before tte,synod? Surely the selection was unanimous or clso,there was no one who had. courage enough to nominate a second This goes to show that the committee selected the bishop. I do not care,, if the committee was composed of tho whole, synod, it does not seem a very catholic method of procedure, as I think'both clerical' and lay electors should exercise their vote by conviction, not by senti. inent. Again; Mr. Fielder says: 'It was not with- propriety that this discussion could bo made public. Why. not? . I have .read, of many elections of bishops, and • tho nominations and discussions for and against 'all tha candidate? wcro nil made in. public, and publishedj which I think far preferable, to this committee business,'as each elector should go theTe with an' _ open mind; and support .tho man that he thinks best for the whou Church. I wish to say -. that no doubt' the .dfoceso has chosen a fit man for their bishop, It'iß with' the_mode of election-that I do-not agree, and I think if this is the procedure followed here in New Zealand, it only reveals'another defect in the machinery of the Church;—l am, atov ; '. THOS; M. MIIXIGAN, '.■:-. : Toitvillo,. September 24, '1909. ... , •■'■'•